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(ModeL) B. S. KEARNEY. TOBACCO stpmmm No. 446,231. v Patented Feb. 10, 1891.

' 13 3 729161 BezyljKewm y,

' UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

BENJAMIN S. KEARNEY, OF FRANKLINTON, NORTH CAROLINA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALFTO NEEDHAM Y. GULLEY, OF SAME PLACE.

TOBACCO-STRINGER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 446,231, dated February 10, 1891. 7

" Application filed May 1'7, 1890. Serial No. 352,130. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, BENJAMIN S. KEARNEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Franklinton, in the county of Franklin and State of North Carolina, have invented a new and useful Tobacco-Stringer, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in tobacco-stringers.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple and inexpensive frame for holding the stringing-needle, adapted to be easily held and controlled by the operator, and capable of permitting the tobacco-leaves to readily pass along the needle to the string.

The invention consists in the construction and novel combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claims hereto appended.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a frame and needle, illustrating the position of the parts preparatory to placing a leaf upon the needle. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view illustrating the parts in position to permit the leaf to pass from the central opening to the string. Fig. 3 is a detail View of one of the guide-plates.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, 1 l designate a pair of similar guideplates or pieces adapted to hold between them a stringing-needle 2 and provided with oppositely-curved ends 3 and at, which form approximately V-shaped months or openings 5 and 6. The plates or pieces 1 are provided in their inner edges at a point intermediate of their ends with oppositely-disposed curved recesses 7, which form a central opening 8, and the inward projecting portions 9 and 10, which are located between the curved ends 5 and 6, and the central openings are provided with similar curved or semi-cylindrical grooves 11 and 12, in which is held the stringing-needle 2. The guide-plates are held normally together by and are secured to springmetal strips 13 and 14:, which are doubled and have their sides 15 and 16 secured to the outer edges of the guide-plates, the ends of the springs being contiguous to each other and arranged about midway the length of the guide-plates. The spring-metal strip 13 is arranged at the front of the frame, and is curved, while the spring 14, which is arranged at the rear of the frame, is bent squarely and incloses a rectangular space. In stringing a leaf the rear of the frame is pressed together, the projecting portions 10 forming a fulcrum, and the front portion, as illustrated in Fig. 1, is spread sufficiently to allow the leaf to pass readily along the needle to the central opening 8, and then the frame is grasped at the front, and the guide-plates are similarly pressed together, the portions 9 acting as a fulcrum and the rear portion is spread, and the leaf can be readily passed on the string.

After tobacco has been taken from the fields it is placed in barns, and the temperature is maintained at a high degree until the tobacco is thoroughly dried and cured. The tobacco-stalks are worthless and the leaves have to be stripped before marketing. The curing of the stalks takes a much longer time than the leaves alone, thereby Wasting time and fuel, and, besides, if only the leaves are cured a much larger quantity can be placed in a barn at the same time. When green leaves are separated from stalks, they have to be so arranged so that they can be hung in a barn.

It will be seen that the frame is simple and inexpensive in construction and can be readily manipulated by the operator.

What I claim is-- 1. The combination of the guide-plates arranged to clamp a stringing-needle and having projecting portions 9 and 10, whereby the guide-plates are rendered capable of having one end brought together to spread the opposite end, and the springs securing the guideplates together, substantially as described.

2. The combination of the guide-plates having their ends oppositely curved and providing flaring mouths and having a central opening 8 and adapted to hold a stringingneedle, and the springs secured to the plates, substantially as described.

3. The combination of the guide-plates pro vided with the groove to receive a stringingneedle and having oppositely-curved ends forming flaring mouths, and the curved recesses 7, forming a central opening 8, the my own I have hereto affixed my signature in spring 13, secured to the sides of the plates presence of two witnesses. and being curved and forming a rounded end to the frame, and the spring 14, similarly se- BENJAMIN KEARNEY 5 cured to the plates and bent to form a square rear end, substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as Witnesses:

I. M. KITTLE, H. E. PEARCE. 

